Four of the five men accused in the complex conspiracy case joined in the request.

The fifth, Yemeni Ramzi bin al Shibh, accused of helping some of the Sept. 11 hijackers find flight schools, declined to let his military lawyers join, for now. He has a mental health evaluation pending on whether he is competent to serve as his own counsel.

The judge, Marine Col. Ralph Kohlmann, promised to rule after lunch on whether he would disqualify himself.

As chief of the war court judiciary, Kohlmann has not only the power to remove himself from the trial but to name his successor.